Mail-bag catcher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. LBAGH. MAIL BAG GATGHBR.

No. 452,711. Patented Many 19, 1891.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

y REACH.'

MAILBAG GATGHER. No. 452,711. Patented May 19,1891.

j zi e of one of the angular catching-levers.

UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN LEACII, OF SELLERSBURG, INDIANA.

MAIL-BAG oATC H ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,711, dated May 19, 1891. Application filed January 19,1891. serial No. 378,382. da model.)

To a/ZZ whom, i may concern:

Be it known ,that I, EDWIN IJEACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sellersburg, in the county of Clark and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertai'ns to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for catching mail-bags from moving trains, and the novelty will be fully understood from the following description and claims, when taken in connection with the accolnpanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvements applied to an ordinary mail-bag crane or hanger and occupying an inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved catching device. Fig. 3 is a plan Fig. 4. is a similar view of the base-plate, and Fig. 5 is a side View of the pivot-bolt connecting the angular levers to the base-plate.-

In the said drawings similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, referring to which- A indicates the upright of an ordinary mailbag crane, and B indicates the pivotallymounted han ger-beam attached thereto,which yis adapted to assume a horizontal position for the attachment of the upper end of a mailbag to be taken aboard a moving train.

C indicates another hanger arm or branch, which is pivotally connected at a suitable elevation to the upright A, and is adapted to assume a horizontal position for the attachment of the lower end of a mail-bag and to take the mailbag-catching devices into an operative position. This hanger C is preferably enlarged at its lower or outer end for the attachment of a base-plate D, which is preferably aboutthe proportional width illustrated, and is provided adjacent to its side edges with transverse apertures d for the reception of pivot or fulcrum bolts E, which are preferablyshouldered, as shown, and are adapted to take through the plate D and hanger C to connect the same, and are also adapted to pivotally connect the angular catching-levers to said plate D. The said plate D and hanger C have their edges recessed in a preferably curvilinear manner, as illustrated at J, to forni a seat for the reception of the bag which is taken from a moving train. Connected in a suitable manner to the lower or outer end of the hanger C and plate D is a bar G, which is slightly .curved downwardly or outwardly, and has its ends curvedsharply upon themselves, as better shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. Upon the front or upper side of the Vbar G adjacentto the side edges of the hanger C and plate D, I form series of rack-teeth c, which are respectively pitched toward the plate and hanger and are designed for a purpose presently to be pointed out.

II indicates the angular catching-levers, which are pivotally connected to the plate D by the bolts E, before described. These levers II comprise comparatively short trigger branch CZ and a catch branch e, which is preferably provided with a hand-grip at its end. The catch branch c of the respective levers is provided on its inner or lower side with a lug I, which is adapted to engage the rackteeth c of the bar G to hold the caughtbag.

K indicates a suitable hood, which is attached to the hanger C so as to cover and protect a portion of the angular levers from the weather, dre.

In operation the hangers B and C are swung into horizontal positions for the attachment of a mail-bag, and the levers I-I are set or adjusted so that their trigger branches CZ will occupy a position at right angles to the bar G. The attendant upon the approaching train adjusts his catcher to obtain the bag snpported bythe hangers B and C, and if he hasI any mail for the point at which the catcher is situated 11e hangs the bag so that when the train reaches the catcher the bag will be guided by the curved bar G against the trigger branch d of one of the levers H, which willcause the branch c of said lever to swing down, when the lug I thereof will engage the rack-teeth upon the bar G and lock the bag in one of the curvilinear recesses ofthe plate D and hanger C.

Although I have specifically described the form, construction, and manner of connecting the several elements of my invention, yet

IOO

it is obvious that in practice such changes rack-teeth of the guide-bnr, substantially as or modiications may be made as fully fall specified. within the scope of my invention. Al. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination, Having described my invention, what I with an upright,ahangerpivotally connected 5 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, to said upright, a plate attached to said 35 S- hanger, and a horizontallydisposed guide- 1. In a mail-bag eatcl1er,the combination, bar attached to the hanger and plate and with a horizontallvdisposed guide-bar prohaving two series of rack-teeth on one of its vided with rack-teeth upon one of its sides, sides, of angular levers comprising, respectro ot a pivotally-niounted angular lever eoniively,a trigger branch and a branch adapted 4o prising atrigger branch anda branch adapted to engage one of the series of rack-teeth, and to engage the rack-teeth of the guide-bar, a hood attached to the hanger and adapted substantially as and for the purpose specified. to cover a portion of the angular levers, sub- 2. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination, stantially as described.

I5 with an upright and a hanger pivotally con- 5. In a mail-bag' catcher, the combination, 45 nected thereto, ot a horizontally-disposed with a hanger having its edges recessed, as guide-bar connected to said hanger and havdescribed,and ahorizontally-disposed curved ing rack-tceth on one of its sides, and apivotbar connected thereto and having.,r rack-teeth ally-mounted angular lever connected to the on one of its sides, of an angular lever pivot- 2o hanger and comprising a trigger branch and ally connected to said hanger and comprising 5o abranch adapted to en gage the rack-teeth of a trigger branch and a branch adapted to enthe guide-bar, substantially as and for the gage the rack-teeth of the horizontal curved purpose set forth. bar, substantially as and for the purpose de- In a inail-bag catcher, the combination, scribed.

25 with a hanger and a horizontally-disposed In testimonywhereofIaflix mysignaturein 55 guide-bar connected thereto and having rackpresence ot two witnesses.

teeth on one of its sides, of a pivotally- EDWIN LEACII. mounted angular lever connected to the Witnesses: hanger and comprising a trigger branch and .TAcoB NEELD,

3o a branch having a lug adapted to engage the BEES XV. PRoSsEI-z. 

